On
22nd July 1672 Henry Shrapnell was licensed as a Baptist teacher or minister and
by 30th September the 'barne of John Broome John of Bradford in Wilts' was licensed
for Baptist worship. In 1689 a chapel, to hold 300 people, was built near St.Margaret's
Street on land leased from Zachariah , son of Henry Shrapnell, 'next unto the
house of one Brownjohn on ye North end thereof. It was here that the first meeting
house was built at the expense of Jacob Silbey a maltster and Richard Godby a
feltmonger. It was approached from St Margaret's Hill, then known as Morgan's
Hill. By 1715 there were 350 people in the congregation. They flourished throughout
the 18th century and in 1797 the chapel was rebuilt on the same site while the
ground floor rooms of one of the houses in St. Margaret's Street were demolished
to give direct access from the street, through the arch which still exists. |
| This
Indenture made the 18th of April 1707 between Thomas Heal of the
Parish of Bradford in ye County of Wilts. Cloth Worker of ye one part and
Francis Pare of the same Parish and County Gentlewoman of the other part
Whereas Zachariah Shrapnell, clothier by Indenture of lease dated 22nd
October … did demise and grant unto Jacob Silby and Richard Godby
All that lower part of his Close in Bradford aforesaid or so much thereof
as lyeth next unto ye Garden then of Brownjohn containing 50 ½
feet breadth and 107 feet in length or part of which said plot of Ground a
house since built for the Assembly of the Protestants called Anabaptists to
be had and holden unto the said Jacob Silby and Richard Godby their executors,
Administrators and Assigns from the date of the said recited Indenture for the
Term of 1,000 years as in and by the same Indenture relation being thereunto
had more at large appeared and whereas the said Jacob Silby and Job Godby only
son and Executor of the last will of the said Richard by their Indentures
dated 28th February 1699(?) did Demise and grant unto John Taylor so
much of the said plot of ground as containeth 42feet breadth and 44 feet in
length whereupon the said John Taylor hath since erected a messuage or
tenement to be had and holden unto the said John Taylor his executors, Administrators
and assigns from the day of the date of the first recited Indenture for the
term of 1,000 years fully to be complete and ended under the yearly rent of 7shillings
as in and by the said last recited Indenture relation being thereunto had more
at large appeared and whereas John Taylor Fuller of the said parish of
Bradford by Indenture bearing the date 1st July 1702 and in the same year
for the consideration therein mentioned did demise and grant unto the above mentioned
Thomas Heal all that above said Plot of Ground and .. Demised and Granted
in and upon the said last recited Indenture dated by the said Jacob Silby and
Job Godby together with ye said Messuage or tenements now standing theron and
in possession of the said John Taylor to had and holden unto the said Thomas
Heal his Executors, Adminstrators or Assgns from ye day of ye date here of from
henceforth for the remainder of the said term of 1,000 years as are
yet unexpired in and upon the said recited Indentures of leases in as large
manner as he the said Thomas Heal his Executors, Administrators or Assigns might
have enjoyed the same by virtue of the said Indenture or otherwise provided always
and upon condition nevertheless that if the said Thomas Heal his heirs Executors
or Administrators or any or either of them do and shall well and truly pay or
cause to be paid unto ye said Frances Pare her Executors, Administrators or
Assigns the full sum of £20 12 shillings of Lawful money of England
on the 19th October next ensuing the date hereof according to ye term of one bond
or obligation baring the date with these payments wherein the said Thomas Heal
standeth bound unto the said Francis Pare in the penal sum of £40 conditioned
for payment of the said sum of £20 12 shillings on the 19th October………………….. April
18th 1706 received of Mrs Frances Pare by the hands of Thomas Bush the sum of
£20
the sign of Thomas Heal
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